Method and apparatus for managing the provisioning of client devices connected to an interactive TV network

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for managing the provisioning of an client device connected to a service distribution network, such as an interactive television service-providing network. Provisioning is managed by a provisioning manager that knows the specific provisioning data to collect and where the data is located and is to be forwarded. The provisioning manager thus acts as an intelligent provisioning data traffic manager by performing as a central collection and dissemination point for the provisioning data and directing provisioning data flows between a billing system, IP data network, server complex and / or other network systems.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for managing the provisioning of a telecommunication network and specifically to a method and apparatus for managing the provisioning of an interactive television (ITV) network and the associated ITV client devices connected thereto.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Implementation and operation of a communications service, whether it be a voice, video or data communications service, requires the interconnection of a plurality of networks, systems, devices and equipment, which may be geographically co-located or separated. Presently, each of these networks, systems, devices and equipment may need to be “provisioned” to enable the establishment of a communications connection path. In general, “provisioning” is the addition of a subscriber (e.g., a subscriber terminal device and / or network component) to, deletion of a subscriber from, or modification of a subscriber's services provided by a network, sy...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The provisioning manager of the present invention communicates with the individual provisioning methods / apparatus of each of the network components for the purpose of effectuating the overall provisioning of the client devices with all of the necessary network components in a coordinated, common (i.e., as a whole), and automated manner. By knowing the specific provisioning data to collect, where the data is found and is to be forwarded, the provisioning manager acts as an intelligent provisioning data manager by performing as a central collection and dissemination point for the provisioning data, directing provisioning data flows between the provisioning methods / apparatus of the individual network components. As such a central point, the provisioning manager makes the automatic provisioning process more efficient. In one configuration the provisioning manager insures that dependent transactions (of each request / response transaction which are typically handled independently) are made in the correct sequence. For example, a “user-add” request is not issued until the related “subscriber-add” request has completed successfully.

Problems solved by technology

In many operational situations, each of the interconnected plurality of networks, systems, devices and equipment may need to be provisioned independently and separately (either manually with human intervention or automatically), thereby resulting in potential time delays, inefficiencies, or errors in enabling the subscriber terminal to connect to and use the communications network services.

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